SWAT Round-Up sets the bar high for teamwork

Dripping wet from a combination of hard-earned sweat and muddied water, the Orange County Corrections team huddled proudly for photos.

The group of five men had just completed the last, and fan-favorite, event of the weeklong SWAT Round-Up International— the obstacle course.

The Round-Up started 31 years ago to serve as an outlet for SWAT teams around the world to network, train and share experiences, said David Arnott, an Orlando Police Department SWAT unit member andorganizingcommittee member for the event.

Each year, an average of60 teams participate— and this year's lineup included international teamsfrom Germany, Kuwait and Hungary as well as teams from Palm Beach, Brevard County, Boston and Los Angeles.

The Round-Up — which began Sunday and spanned the week — took place at the Orange County Sheriff's Office Firing Range. The competition is made up of events including hostage rescue, officer rescue and obstacle course.

The Orange County Corrections group at the competition was made up of members of that agency'sSpecial Response Team.

One by one, team members conquered the obstacle course bylifting a 90-pound ball, wiggling through a large monkey-bar contraption, climbing up and down ropes, hurdling over and crawling under fences and swimming the backstroke through a trench of muddy water.

It was in the final minute, however, that the group defined teamwork.

After four of them had eachfinished pulling a 100-pound sled by a rope, the fifth teammate was struggling — so his compadres got behind him, and together they hauled in the sledto complete the obstacle coursein six minutes flat.

"It's a great training experience," said Orange County master corrections Officer Scott Sever, adding that the team started training six weeks ago. "You can't really train like this anywhere in the country."

Sever said the Special Response Team trains together throughout the year for possible on-the-job emergencies. Sever said he has been participating in the SWAT Round-Up's shooting and obstacle-course events for 13 years. The Corrections team has ranked as high 13thin the past, he said.

And even though it's a competition, Arnott said, the teams offer great support to each other. At a Wednesday dinner, the Neenah (Wisconsin) Police Department took the floor and raised $3,500 from various teams to give to one of their teammates whose son has leukemia.

"Although they're in a competition, they're still looking out for each other," Arnott said.